When creatures such as insects or rats infest plants or a place, they are present in large numbers and cause damage. pests like aphids which infest cereal crops. + infested in·fest·ed The prison is infested with rats + -infested -infested the rat-infested slums where the plague flourished. + infestation infestations in·fes·ta·tion The premises were treated for cockroach infestation
disapproval If you say that people or things you disapprove of or regard as dangerous are infesting a place, you mean that there are large numbers of them in that place. Crime and drugs are infesting the inner cities. = overrun + infested in·fest·ed The road further south was infested with bandits. + -infested -infested the shark-infested waters of the Great Barrier Reef
To trouble greatly by numbers or by frequency of presence; to disturb; to annoy; to frequent and molest or harass; as, fleas infest dogs and cats; a sea infested with pirates